Mithridates Chrestus
Encyclopedia
Mithridates Chrestus was a Prince and co-ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus
.
Chrestus was of Greek Macedonian
and Persian ancestry
. He was the second son and among the children born to the Pontian monarchs Mithridates V of Pontus
and Laodice VI
. He was born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontus.
His father was assassinated in about 120 BC in Sinope
poisoned by unknown persons at a lavish banquet which he held. In the will of his father, Mithridates V left the Kingdom to the joint rule of his mother, his eldest brother Mithridates VI of Pontus
and himself. As Chrestus and his brother were underage to rule, his mother retained all the power as regent. In his mother’s regency she favored Chrestus, over his eldest brother.
In 116 BC/115 BC, Chrestus and his brother were honored by the Dionysius, the gymnasiarch on the Greek island of Delos
. Another dedication survives in Athens
, by a gymnasiarch of statues of Chrestus and his brother to the Greek Patron God Zeus
on behalf of Chrestus and his brother apparently in recognition of his aid to sailors and traders.
Mithridates VI, escaped from the plotting of his mother and had gone into hiding. Mithridates VI between 116 BC-113 BC returned to Pontus from hiding and was hailed King. He was able to remove his mother and Chrestus from the Pontian throne, thus Mithridates VI became the sole ruler of Pontus. Mithridates VI show clemency towards his mother and brother, by imprisoning them both. Laodice died in prison of natural causes, however Chrestus could have died in prison from natural causes or was tried for treason and was executed on the orders of Mithridates VI. When they died, Mithridates VI gave his mother and brother, a royal funeral.
Kingdom of Pontus
The Kingdom of Pontus or Pontic Empire was a state of Persian origin on the southern coast of the Black Sea. It was founded by Mithridates I in 291 BC and lasted until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 63 BC...
.
Chrestus was of Greek Macedonian
Macedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
and Persian ancestry
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
. He was the second son and among the children born to the Pontian monarchs Mithridates V of Pontus
Mithridates V of Pontus
Mithridates V Euergetes ; also known as Mithridates V of Pontus, Mithradates V of Pontus and Mithradates V Euergetes, was a Prince and seventh King of the wealthy Kingdom of Pontus.Mithridates V was of Greek Macedonian and Persian ancestry...
and Laodice VI
Laodice VI
Laodice VI was a Greek Seleucid Princess and through marriage was a Queen of the Kingdom of Pontus....
. He was born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontus.
His father was assassinated in about 120 BC in Sinope
Sinop, Turkey
Sinop is a city with a population of 36,734 on İnce Burun , by its Cape Sinop which is situated on the most northern edge of the Turkish side of Black Sea coast, in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, in modern-day northern Turkey, historically known as Sinope...
poisoned by unknown persons at a lavish banquet which he held. In the will of his father, Mithridates V left the Kingdom to the joint rule of his mother, his eldest brother Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI or Mithradates VI Mithradates , from Old Persian Mithradatha, "gift of Mithra"; 134 BC – 63 BC, also known as Mithradates the Great and Eupator Dionysius, was king of Pontus and Armenia Minor in northern Anatolia from about 120 BC to 63 BC...
and himself. As Chrestus and his brother were underage to rule, his mother retained all the power as regent. In his mother’s regency she favored Chrestus, over his eldest brother.
In 116 BC/115 BC, Chrestus and his brother were honored by the Dionysius, the gymnasiarch on the Greek island of Delos
Delos
The island of Delos , isolated in the centre of the roughly circular ring of islands called the Cyclades, near Mykonos, is one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece...
. Another dedication survives in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, by a gymnasiarch of statues of Chrestus and his brother to the Greek Patron God Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
on behalf of Chrestus and his brother apparently in recognition of his aid to sailors and traders.
Mithridates VI, escaped from the plotting of his mother and had gone into hiding. Mithridates VI between 116 BC-113 BC returned to Pontus from hiding and was hailed King. He was able to remove his mother and Chrestus from the Pontian throne, thus Mithridates VI became the sole ruler of Pontus. Mithridates VI show clemency towards his mother and brother, by imprisoning them both. Laodice died in prison of natural causes, however Chrestus could have died in prison from natural causes or was tried for treason and was executed on the orders of Mithridates VI. When they died, Mithridates VI gave his mother and brother, a royal funeral.
Sources
- Day, J. An economic history of Athens under Roman domination, Ayer Publishing, 1942
- Erciyas, D.B. Wealth, aristocracy and royal propaganda under the Hellenistic kingdom of the Mithradatids in the Central Black Sea Region in Turkey, BRILL, 2006
- Mayor, A. The Poison King: the life and legend of Mithradates, Rome’s deadliest enemy, Princeton University Press, 2009